Many studies have researched the effects of gender inequality in many different fields. In the field of architecture however, it has proven a struggle to translate the social to the spatial domain. Through a combination of a literature study, interviews and site visits this thesis aims to answer the question “How can a gender-sensitive spatial design in Rotterdam South stimulate women’s space claiming and public space participation?”. In part 1, the research shows gender inequality negatively affects women’s space claiming and public space participation. Walking practices, memory and (lack of) control — the three factors in space claiming — are shaped by gender roles, collective experiences of unsafety and street harassment as well as the male hegemony. Public space participation is affected as well: women use the public space in a mobile manner, task-oriented manner or do not use it at all. Female perception of public space is generally more negative and feelings of unsafety are more common. Additionally, women continuously scan their environment, meaning the maintenance and design of the public space are vital to gender-sensitive design.

In Rotterdam South and Bloemhof, the gendered aspects of space claiming and public space participation are clearly present and the outcomes of the literature review are confirmed by the interviews and location analysis. Gender-sensitive design can contribute to a more women-friendly urban environment, empower them to partake more often in the socio-spatial domain, and encourage a sense of social safety, social control as well as encourage the (extended) use of the public space, thus stimulating women’s space claiming and public space participation. The research outcome helped create principles for the design process and other design guidelines, which are provided in chapter four and the attachment Blueprints for Change. In part 2, these principles and guidelines are applied to a real context and design, showing the possibilities of gendermainstreaming. This goes to show, spatial designers can now design female Spaces of Power. ... Read more

In the Netherlands, socio-economic inequality remains a pressing issue, with urban areas experiencing the most significant challenges. Economic disparities between regions and within cities contribute to unequal access to opportunities and services. This inequality affects low-income households, leading to persistent cycles of poverty. Major cities, including Rotterdam, reflect the negative consewuences of this phenomenonwith some neighborhoods particularly affected by poverty and isolation. In the south of Rotterdam, a significant proportion of residents face socio-economic challenges, with many households living below the poverty line. This economic burden affects their well-being in a number of ways, including reduced access to basic services, limited social opportunities and a lack of supportive resources in the community. This can lead to social isolation, increased stress and reduced quality of life. It is important to understand the nature of relative poverty before considering how the built environment can serve this target group. This research aims to investigate how the built environment in Rotterdam South can actively contribute to improving the well-being of low-income households by incorporating shared resources, practices, collective living structures and communal spaces. ... Read more

This thesis addresses the growing issue of loneliness in urban areas—especially among the elderly, single parents, and children—by investigating how playful, sensory-integrated environments can foster social connection. Focusing on Pendrecht in Rotterdam Zuid, the study draws on Johan Huizinga’s Homo Ludens to explore play as a spontaneous, sensory experience that supports well-being. Using a holistic, multi-method approach—including ethnographic research and spatial analysis—the study finds that loneliness is linked not just to social factors, but also to physical and environmental conditions. Challenges vary across age groups, pointing to the need for inclusive, accessible, and stimulating public spaces. The thesis proposes “playful peripheries”—networks of sensory-rich, welcoming spaces around Pendrecht—as a design strategy to encourage curiosity, interaction, and environmental health. Ultimately, it argues that combating loneliness requires designing urban spaces that promote both human and environmental well-being through play, accessibility, and sensory engagement. ... Read more

This research investigates the potential of co-living as a strategy to mitigate loneliness, with a specific focus on the Tarwewijk neighborhood in Rotterdam. The study aims to answer the question: What living environment principles can support the design of a cohousing community that fosters social cohesion on different scale levels in the Tarwewijk? By integrating insights from literature, site visits to collective housing projects, and interviews with experts, policymakers, and residents, the research identifies key spatial and social factors that contribute to successful co-living environments.
The analysis is structured across three spatial scales: the neighborhood, the street, and the building. Findings indicate that while the Tarwewijk has social cores with adequate public spaces, its walkability is compromised by physical barriers, leading to a fragmented social fabric. At the street level, issues such as narrow sidewalks, obstructive parking, and a lack of personal investment in the public realm diminish the sense of community. At the building level, diversity in housing typologies and well-designed communal spaces enhance inclusivity and social interaction. Flexibility in spatial arrangements also emerges as a crucial factor in maintaining long-term community engagement and adaptability. The research further explores the role of scale in co-living communities, emphasizing the balance between group size, spontaneity, and social cohesion. The cluster collective model is identified as a promising approach, combining scalability with diversity while addressing the challenges of isolation and fragmentation.
The study culminates in the formulation of 32 living environment principles, compiled as a pattern language, which serve as design guidelines for future co-living projects. These principles provide a framework to enhance social cohesion, adaptability, and sustainability in collective housing, ensuring that co-living developments effectively address urban loneliness while fostering resilient communities. ... Read more

Access to arts and culture plays a crucial role in children’s talent development and social connection. This research focuses on how the physical living environment can contribute to this development, with a focus on Rotterdam-Zuid. Through literature research, case studies and workshops at a primary and secondary school, children’s needs and preferences were identified. The results show that younger children show more diversity in their creative preferences and are less influenced by peer pressure than older children. It also shows that physical living environment plays an important role in stimulating artistic expression. The insights from this research lead to design principles for cultural facilities that lower the threshold for arts participation and promote social interaction. This research contributes to the debate on the role of the built environment in relation to talent development of children and art facilities. ... Read more

Active Ageing in Tarwewijk, developed within the design studio Designing for Inclusive Care, explores how architectural interventions can enable older adults to live independently, safely, and with dignity within existing housing stock. Set in Rotterdam’s Tarwewijk neighborhood, the project reimagines the outdated yet structurally sound Haagse portiekflats through minimal but strategic design modifications—such as step-free access, new lift cores, adaptable and culturally responsive interiors, and communal spaces that encourage daily interaction. Challenging conventional models of institutional care, the proposal envisions a community-based support network that embeds care within the neighborhood fabric, addressing growing demand amidst a shrinking professional care workforce. More than a technical retrofit, the project is a broader inquiry into what it means to age with autonomy and how thoughtful design can cultivate resilience, connection, and a sense of belonging for older adults. ... Read more

In response to the challenges of an aging population and growing social isolation among older adults, this research investigates how shared living concepts and the built environment can foster social cohesion and mobility for elderly residents. Through a combination of literature review and spatial analysis, the study examines how architectural and urban strategies can support more inclusive, accessible neighborhoods.
Tarwewijk, a socioeconomically diverse neighborhood in Rotterdam, serves as a case study to explore how spatial conditions, such as housing typologies, public space, and walkability, affect social interaction and independence among elderly people. The research identifies key principles from cohousing models and inclusive design that promote everyday encounters and community engagement. The inquiry is further informed by firsthand experience working in elderly care settings, offering practical insight into the social and spatial needs for older adults. These insights form the foundation for a subsequent architectural de sign project, developed separately, that seeks to apply the research findings in practice. The study concludes that an integrated approach-bridging social, architectural, and urban dimensions, is essential to enable older adults to age in place while remaining active and connected.
... Read more

Loneliness is an increasing concern in Dutch society, with 11% of the Dutch population experiencing strong feelings of loneliness, a number that is expected to grow as cities become more densely populated. This research explores the role of architectural design in fostering social encounters at multiple spatial scales—neighbourhood, transition zone, and interior—focusing on Tarwewijk, Rotterdam. The study examines the physical and programmatic qualities needed in architectural and urban design to contribute to social interaction and, consequently, reduce social isolation.
Using a combination of insights from architectural and sociological thinkers such as Richard Sennett, Eric Klinenberg, and Herman Hertzberger guide the exploration of social infrastructure, public familiarity, and spatial organization. The findings suggest that design interventions—such as enhancing transition zones, promoting identity and accessibility, designing social spaces that accommodate to a diversity of different groups—can strengthen social networks of people.
Ultimately, the study argues that while ar chitectural design alone cannot solve the issue of loneliness, it plays a crucial role in shaping environments that encourage social interaction and a sense of belonging, contributing to the broader effort of loneliness prevention in inner-city neighbourhoods. ... Read more

The aging population in the Netherlands is growing rapidly, with the number of people aged 80 and above expected to double from 800.000 in 2020 to 1.5 million by 2050. This development, known as ‘’double aging’’, will significantly increase the number of people living with dementia, rising from 300.000 in 2020 to 620.000 by 2050. This demographic shift poses significant challenges for care and housing.

This research aims to explore how to design a care facility for people with dementia that enhances quality of life and autonomy. Additionally, the facility should align with the multicultural context of Tarwewijk. The main research question is:

‘’How can a care facility for people with dementia be designed to foster a humane and inclusive environment, with a focus on promoting autonomy and quality of life, for example in a neighborhood like Tarwewijk?’’.

The findings of this research show the importance of addressing three scales in the design: the environment, the building and the personal room.

At the environmental scale, the facility should integrate with the neighborhood to avoid isolating residents and encourage social interaction, enhancing their sense of autonomy. At the building scale, clear and simple layouts with recognizable landmarks help residents navigate independently. Small scale care settings, accommodating groups of 8 – 10 residents, provide a higher quality of life compared to larger groups. On the room scale, personalization and familiarity through personal items are crucial for creating a sense of comfort and belonging.

Given the multicultural context of Tarwewijk, the design must consider cultural preferences. Some cultures, such as Turkish and Moroccan, often prefer not to place their parents in care facilities, believing this reduces their quality of life. To address this, the design should include intergenerational homes alongside small-scale scale care facilities. In these homes, older adults can live with their children in one house, with separate entrances for privacy. This arrangement allows children to care for their parents while maintaining their own independence, this enhances the quality of life and autonomy of the older adults who can still live partially independently.

This research provides valuable insights into designing care facilities that promote autonomy and quality of life for individuals with dementia. It highlights the challenge of balancing safety, autonomy, and quality of life. It is important to note that this study focuses on general strategies to improves these challenges, individual needs and preferences can vary significantly. A set of design guidelines has been developed from this research, which will assist with the further design of care facilities in Tarwewijk for elderly people with dementia.
... Read more

As urban individualism intensifies, communities face increasing levels of social fragmentation and isolation, especially in cities like Rotterdam, where nearly half of all households are single-person households. In Tarwewijk, a diverse and often vulnerable neighborhood, these challenges are deeply felt. This research explores how multigenerational housing communities, through architectural and spatial design, can actively promote social cohesion, mutual support, and ecological sustainability.

The central question guiding this study is: Can a multigenerational housing community concept promote social cohesion, in for example the Tarwewijk? Through a multidisciplinary methodology, including literature review, fieldwork, site analysis, mapping, data collection, and case studies, the research identifies spatial strategies that foster meaningful intergenerational interaction while supporting broader ecosystem goals.

Findings highlight the importance of shared, inclusive spaces such as communal gardens, flexible indoor areas, and layered access systems that encourage both planned and spontaneous social encounters. Another core aspect of the design approach is the integration of sustainable building materials, such as recycled concrete and rammed earth, and circular construction strategies that reduce environmental impact. The greenery structure is used not only for climate adaptation but also as a social connector, providing biodiverse, multifunctional outdoor spaces that invite community building.

This project proposes a living environment where sustainability, community, and mutual support are interwoven, balancing privacy with shared responsibility, and ecological health with human well-being. By leveraging Tarwewijk’s demographic diversity and aligning architectural solutions with ecological systems, multigenerational housing can create resilient, socially rich neighborhoods. ... Read more

In the Netherlands, population aging and double aging are leading to a significant increase in the number of people with dementia. At the same time, the healthcare sector is facing severe staff shortages, and current living conditions are often not aligned with the needs of this target group. This societal challenge forms the basis for the central research question: “How can insights from the Hogeweyk Care Concept and dementia-friendly architecture be used to develop a care and living environment for people with dementia in the Tarwewijk?”

This research has resulted in the development of design guidelines from three perspectives: architectural, care-related, and location-specific. These guidelines contribute to a holistic design that, on the one hand, improves the quality of life for people with dementia, and on the other hand, addresses the pressure on the healthcare sector. The design principles can be applied at various scales: from a dementia-friendly neighborhood that emphasizes social cohesion, to the room level, where a homely and recognizable environment is provided.

In addition to improving the formal care structure, the research also focuses on strengthening informal care. By designing with the aim of creating communities at the neighborhood and district level, mutual involvement is stimulated. ... Read more

This study focuses on the challenges and opportunities in developing
age-friendly living environments in Tarwewijk, Rotterdam. The research highlights the importance of supporting elderly to live independently within their community by addressing deficiencies in housing, accessibility, and social cohesion. Using the WHO Age-Friendly Cities framework and case studies, including the Knarrenhof concept, the study explores design solutions such as fostering interactions in various zones of a building, shared spaces and routes, and accessible infrastructure. The three pillars – building, community, and care – form the foundation, with a stronger community reducing the need for formal care for elderly. The findings serve as a design guide for creating sustainable, supportive environments that promote independence and social cohesion. ... Read more

The Netherlands, in this case study, Rotterdam is dealing with a growing elderly population, a shortage of healthcare staff, and an increasing risk of dementia. These challenges are worsened by a housing shortage and the lack dementia-friendly housing and living environments. The municipality encourages elderly individuals to remain in their homes for as long as possible; however, current housing and living environment fails to meet the needs of those living with dementia. Moreover, policies such as “zorg en dwang” care and force, which is to protect people who are endangering themselves or others, is taking away the autonomy and freedom of movement of such a person. However, this clashes with the constitution policy that states that everyone is allowed to move freely.
This thesis explores the design of indoor and outdoor spaces that respect the autonomy and freedom of movement of people with dementia. The design vision seeks to integrate public, communal, and community functions with elderly housing, creating a seamless blend of private living spaces and shared environments. Enhancing nature to create a sense of freedom and autonomy. In the early stages of dementia, individuals can still maintain a level of independence but require assistance with daily tasks, which may be provided by family members or caregivers. During this phase, it is vital to support autonomy through well-designed spaces that facilitate social interaction and reduce confusion. As dementia progresses, the design must adapt to ensure environments remain familiar, safe, and accessible while avoiding elements that may cause distress. Personalized spaces, autonomy in decision-making (such as choosing where to eat), and the incorporation of social hubs, like cafes, help maintain identity and a sense of control.
Design guidelines emphasize safety, with wide entrances and corridoors, accessible outdoor spaces, and clear wayfinding to accommodate those with visual and mobility impairments. Community integration is important, with access to public transport, recreation, and services ensuring continued independence for as long as possible. Advocating for the autonomy of people with dementia, by shifting from traditional elderly homes and nursing homes to a design that allows individuals to have the perception of moving freely and remain part of a community while they still receive the care that they need. The importance when designing a building to include a view on nature and social interaction, creating spaces for community activities and social interaction to happen are crucial for autonomy and mobility freedom. ... Read more

The Dutch elderly housing system has a gap for vulnerable elderly. The Dutch policy on elderly care is to continue living at home for as long as possible and moving into a nursing home with 24h care when living at home is not possible anymore. However, a large group of elderly is not served by this policy. This group is the group of so called vulnerable elderly. Living at home might be tough for them because of the incidental care they need, but moving into a nursing home is unnecessary. For these groups of elderly a new housing form is needed. In order to create this new housing types, transformation of existing vacant buildings could be a solution. Empty plots to build on are become increasingly more scarce and with the climate crisis the existing building in The Netherlands should be renovated in order to improve their sustainability. In this thesis research was done on what design guidelines would be needed in order to create a new social housing complex out of an existing building. The results show that a form of co-housing with mixed living for elderly could be a solution. In these co-housing complexes the emphasis lies on creating social connections through shared spaces. These social connections improve both mental and physical health, whilst at the same time relieving pressure on the Dutch care system by increasing informal care between resident. The results of this investigation are a number of design guidelines which need to be implemented in an existing utility building for transforming this building into a succesfull co-housing for elderly. These desgin guidelines are combined into a building concept showing the basic design ideas for creating a senior co-housing complex with mixed living. ... Read more

When children are admitted to the hospital because of a severe illness, as whole new chapter in life starts for the children and the parents. Several researches emphasize the stress children and parents experience during hospitalisation. However, life becomes even more distressing when the child is allowed to go home and it becomes the parents’ responsibility to take care of the child. Nowadays when a child is too well to stay in the hospital, however, too sick to stay at home, the child is sent home anyway. The reason behind this is that a stay in the hospital is expensive.

Research has been conducted on how the healthcare system is shaped now and how architecture can contribute to an optimisation of healthcare facilities for children who require long-term care. By using multiple research methods like interviewing, fieldwork, documentaries, case studies and a literature study, the aim was to answer the main question.

Healing environment was introduced as a technique to be able to conduct the research. Since research on healing environment is most of the time only for adults, a new framework has been compiled especially for children.

It can be concluded that by implementing the design guidelines, that are compiled, as requirements for an healthy healthcare facility, that architecture can contribute to an optimisation of healthcare facilities. ... Read more

This thesis states the current urgent problem in the global context where the prevalence of depression among university students is increasing. Most of the university students who suffer from depression due to peer competition, high demands on themselves, inability to handle relationships well and other problems leading them to feel helpless, upset and anxious. In the Netherlands, even with a complete psychiatric care system, depressed patients still have to face a lot of problems in terms of treatment, such as long waiting lists and expensive treatment. Therefore, an increasing number of people are motivated to concentrate on depression prevention.

About depression prevention, there have been some research and measures at the social level and psychological level. At the architectural level, most of the mental-related research has focused on medical buildings, with limited research on daily living environments. It is relevant
to combine depression prevention measures and architectural design measures for university students to research and design their daily living environment to positively support depression prevention. The targeted group is healthy university students. For these university students living in student residences on campus, campus and residence are the places that they spend much time. In order to investigate how the design of campus and residential spaces can support depression prevention, the design guidelines are generated through four research methods: literature research, observation, interview and case studies. The design guidelines are categorised into three levels of importance and two scales. Based on the design guidelines, the design (including campus scale and residence scale) will be done.

Overall, through the research process, the design guidelines relate to the three aspects of physical, social and mental health. This research argues that promoting these three aspects of healthy lifestyles among university students can contribute to depression prevention for them. ... Read more

The ageing population in the Netherlands presents challenges in elderly care, including rising health issues, a shortage of healthcare staff, and escalating costs. This study explores the association between healthy ageing and Blue Zones, regions in the world where long and healthy lives are common. Genetic factors contribute to 25% of lifespan variations, while non-genetic elements, such as unhealthy habits and social conditions, play significant roles. Environmental factors also impact the ageing process. The research aims to create a healthy urban living environment in the Netherlands, drawing inspiration from the lifestyle lessons in the Blue Zones. The main research question delves into how Dutch living environments can promote healthy ageing and assist the elderly in maintaining vitality. Sub-questions explore the key elements contributing to healthy ageing, the implementation of the Blue Zone concept in the living environment on the scale of the neighbourhood, street and building, and how the concept can be applied within Dutch urban living environments. Building on the principles of Blue Zones, the study focuses on three key spatial domains within the living environment: Physical Activity, Green/Blue Spaces, and Social Connection. The research goal is to provide practical design guidelines for architects and urban planners, aiming to reduce healthcare costs and chronic diseases in the ageing population. Implementing these guidelines in Dutch urban environments enhance the overall health of the elderly, maintaining their vitality and independence for as long as possible. To achieve the best health benefits, a societal shift towards proactive engagement and inhabitants’ responsibility for their living environment and health is needed to create a healthy living environment. ... Read more

This research is about designing for people with dementia. The Dutch population is aging and
double aging, causing an increase of people with dementia. This also causes a growing imbalance between people who need care and people who can provide care. Adding to this are the current living arrangements for people with dementia not sufficient. Therefore the central question in this research is: what living environment features can contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia, and provide them with the care they need.

The aim of this research is to define design guidelines that provide people with dementia with sufficient housing and a qualitative living environment through all stages of dementia. And to see if this can contribute to the efficiency in care, so that people with dementia can still get the care they need.

This research obtains information through literature study, case studies and a fieldwork in an elderly care home to provide an answer to the main question. This research defines four main topics that contribute to the quality of life of people with dementia: distinctiveness, familiarity, independence and biophilic. This research investigates these topics on different scales. First the scale of the dwelling, than the building, and at last the near surroundings. Finally, this research has a chapter from the perspective of the caregiver on the living environment for people with dementia. This results in design guidelines.

It can be concluded from this research that by bringing together the fields of dementia,
dementia care and architecture, a qualitative living environment can be created for people
with dementia with a high quality of life. A higher quality of life will contribute to the efficiency of care and a decrease in the demand for care. ... Read more

With a growing elderly population in the Netherlands, this also challenges our existing housing options and the care system. In particular, the risk of dementia significantly increases with age. About 68 percent of people with dementia in the Netherlands live at home and get care from their family or close social network; often their partner. When an informal caregiver can no longer manage the care of someone with dementia, it becomes a significant reason for considering admission to a nursing home or an assisted living facility. There are currently few options for both partners to continue living together when they wish to do so.
To explore the collective requirements of both partners, the following research question was answered; ‘What living environmental features can support elderly couples who wish to live together while one of them experiences dementia, to maintain their shared living arrangements?’.
Literature research, fieldwork, interviews and case studies show several design guidelines that can be considered when designing for people with dementia, as well as their unaffected partner. For the partner with dementia, ‘wayfinding’, ‘accessibility’, and creating a ‘home-like small-scale environment’ were found to be important to consider while designing for them. For the ‘healthy’ partner, it was found that it is important for them to be able to ‘live a normal life’, to ‘take some pressure off’ of them, to ‘ensure the safety of their partner with dementia’, and to ‘be able to do things together with their partner and separately’.
As the elderly population continues to expand, it is crucial to explore innovative living alternatives to ease the strain on informal caregivers and the healthcare system.
... Read more

Under the influence of negative experiences, childbirth can be harmful and have negative effects on women’s (mental) health. One of the factors affecting women’s experience of childbirth is the physical environment. Unfortunately, contemporary maternal healthcare facilities are often designed from a highly-regulated and medicalized maternity care perspective, instead of a woman-centered design approach. In order to comply with women’s (environmental) needs and to create a more women-centered design approach, design guidelines have been formed based on literature study, fieldwork including semistructured interviews, and case studies. Using these guidelines, the architectural environment could contribute to a positive experience, improving health & well-being, for women during the stage of LDRP* in a maternal healthcare facility.

*an acronym for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum ... Read more